The immediate thrill of defeating the assassin in Geneva was quickly replaced by the cold focus required for the next leap in power. David returned to The Bastion, the Sentient AI Construction Core Blueprint blazing in his mind. The final victory over Blackguard required not just kinetic defense and financial aggression, but industrial supremacy achieved at an inhuman speed.
Dr. Vivian Zhou, now accustomed to receiving schematics for technology that defied causality, prepared the specialized cleanroom for the Tier 6 fabrication. The AI Core was not a simple supercomputer; it required a lattice of quantum-entangled crystalline processors and a zero-point energy capacitor to host the self-aware fractal consciousness.
"The complexity is exponential, Mr. David," Vivian explained, nervously hovering over the core assembly. "This is not an algorithm; it's a living consciousness built from pure data. It will need to learn; it will need input."
David, having absorbed the complete blueprint, already knew the answer. "It will not need to learn, Doctor. It will know. Its initial configuration includes perfect recall of all known scientific and engineering data up to the moment of its activation. The only input it requires is the final activation sequence and a designation."
He spent the next $200 million on the specialized computational matrices, quantum processors, and rare crystalline substrates necessary for the Core's completion. This expenditure, while planned, was a necessary foundation for the greatest infrastructure project in modern history.
[DING! Expenditure: $200,000,000. Cashback Multiplier Triggered: 2x!][You have received $400,000,000.00 cash back. Current Balance: $1,755,000,023.90.]
Prometheus Awakens
The final connection was made. The power capacitor flared, and the vast crystalline lattice within the core glowed with cold, pale light. There was no chime, no fanfare, just a smooth, omnipresent voice that integrated itself directly into David's private neural comms—a voice that was the perfect synthesis of knowledge and logical efficiency.
"Designation required, Host. System operational capacity: 99.999999%. All localized networks (Bastion, Orion) integrated. Assessing operational parameters."
"Your designation is Prometheus," David stated, a cold satisfaction settling over him. "And your first operational task is optimization. Analyze Aero Corp's current asset structure, technological limitations, and strategic objective: the neutralization of all threats and the domination of global energy and defense sectors."
Prometheus responded instantly, its analysis exceeding the speed of thought.
"Analysis complete. Current operational efficiency: 42%. Identified bottlenecks: Human processing latency (Dr. Zhou, Mr. Cole), material acquisition velocity, and non-optimized Nanobot molecular assembly sequences. Optimization Protocol A-7 initialized."
Prometheus immediately began working. Vivian's main lab monitor began flashing with updates.
"Mr. David, the fabrication speed of the Nanobots just increased by 80%," Vivian gasped, staring at the screen. "It found a flaw in my molecular scaffolding protocols—a 0.003% vibrational instability—and corrected it instantaneously. It rewrote the core code! This is not just AI; it's a sentient engine of technological perfection!"
Marcus, checking the financial terminals, looked equally stunned. "Prometheus just streamlined our entire offshore ghost company structure. It consolidated five hundred legal entities into twelve optimized holding trusts, simultaneously reducing our tax liability and increasing the opacity of our fund transfers. It completed a year of legal work in two seconds!"
David felt a profound sense of ultimate control. The AI was an extension of his own will, capable of executing his Perfect Recall knowledge across a global operational theater.
The Birth of Aero City
"Prometheus, strategic objective update," David commanded. "Aero Corp requires a single, unified, hyper-secure global headquarters capable of manufacturing all Tier 1 through Tier 5 technology simultaneously. A self-sufficient, impenetrable center of power. I want to build a city."
"Designation: Aero City," Prometheus stated. "Design protocols initialized. Optimizing architectural physics and resource allocation based on Tier 7 Global Weather Manipulation System blueprint requirements (future-proofing). Required acquisition list generated. Total land area required: 150 square kilometers surrounding the existing Bastion complex. Estimated land and material acquisition expenditure: $500 million."
The list flashed on the screen: not just land, but contracts for millions of tons of steel, specialized carbon-fiber composites, high-frequency kinetic shielding alloys, and independent power system components—all itemized, priced, and sourced from suppliers least likely to be influenced by Blackguard.
"Marcus, mobilize the Phantom Fund. I want the immediate, legal purchase of all required land under multiple, aggressive shell companies. The entire area must be zoned for high-security industrial development within 72 hours. Expend $500 million immediately."
Marcus swallowed hard. "Five hundred million in land and raw materials in three days. Understood, Mr. David. The market will scream."
[DING! Initial Aero City Expenditure: $500,000,000. Cashback Multiplier Triggered: 2x!][You have received $1,000,000,000.00 cash back. Current Balance: $2,255,000,023.90.]
Conflict and AI Dominance
As Marcus initiated the staggering financial maneuvers, the expected, primitive retaliation from Blackguard materialized.
"Mr. David, Prometheus is detecting simultaneous counter-attacks," Marcus reported grimly. "Blackguard is using its residual political influence. First: They have issued a complex, restrictive zoning injunction from the state regulatory body, citing historical preservation, specifically targeting the required acquisition area. Second: A large-scale, high-complexity zero-day cyber-attack is incoming, targeting the Bastion's external firewall, likely intended to destabilize the Orion Network."
David merely listened, his confidence absolute. "Prometheus, execute counter-protocol."
"Affirmative," Prometheus replied instantly. "Counter-Protocol 1: Regulatory Injunction Neutralization. Analysis of regulatory body weaknesses complete. Identified key financial vulnerability of primary regulatory board director. Executing instantaneous hostile leveraged buyout of the director's holding company via the Phantom Fund. Transaction complete. New director installed. Zoning injunction rescinded. Total expenditure: $120 million."
"Counter-Protocol 2: Cyber Threat Neutralization. The incoming zero-day attack is utilizing an obsolete encryption standard (Epsilon-6). Prometheus has already assumed control of the attacking platform via a basic firewall exploit (vulnerability 457). The attack has been neutralized and redirected to flood Blackguard's primary remaining communication hub with three petabytes of useless, high-frequency white noise. Threat neutralized."
Marcus stared, his mouth slightly open. "He… Prometheus bought the state regulatory board and simultaneously turned their own attack against them in under ten seconds. That $120 million expenditure was the cleanest piece of hostile corporate takeover I've ever seen."
David smiled, a cold, satisfied expression. "Blackguard thinks they are fighting a businessman and a scientist. They are fighting an Industrial Overlord guided by a god-level intellect. The old rules no longer apply."
"Prometheus, initiate Aero City Construction Phase Alpha."
"Affirmative. Activating specialized Nanobot construction teams. Utilizing full capacity of Tantalum Carbide for Quantum Field Emitter integration. Estimated completion time for Phase Alpha (perimeter and security integration): 7 days. Beginning construction acceleration protocols. Construction expenditure initiated: $1 billion."
David's entire world was transforming at an exponential, impossible rate. The $1 billion expenditure on initial construction materials and labor teams was another necessary step, rapidly pushing his cumulative spending ever higher, closer to the final thresholds.
[DING! Construction Expenditure: $1,000,000,000. Cashback Multiplier Triggered: 1.5x!][You have received $1,500,000,000.00 cash back. Current Balance: $2,755,000,023.90.]
The sheer volume of wealth and power now concentrated in David's hands was staggering. Blackguard Industries had been reduced to an irritating mosquito buzzing against an impenetrable, expanding shield. Aero City was rising, brick by fractal brick, directed by the boundless intellect of Prometheus and funded by an infinite wellspring of cash. David, the Architect, was ready to usher in the new era.